Weezer stole Metallica track
Remember (Welcome Home) Sanitarium, the last track on Side 1 of Metallica’s 1986 LP, Master of Puppets? Remember Undone – The Sweater Song, the first track Weezer released in 1994? If you know both, do you detect any comparisons?
They’re more or less the same song, according to Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo – although he didn’t realise that when he was writing his version.
He tells Rolling Stone: “It was the first Weezer song I wrote, back in 1991. I was trying to write a Velvet Underground type song because I was super into them, and I came up with the guitar riff. I picked up the guitar and the first thing I played was that riff.
“It just feels so classic to me. Even now when the band starts to play it, it takes over the energy in the room and you’re transported into the world of Weezer.
“It wasn’t until years after I wrote it that I realised it’s almost a complete rip-off of Sanitarium by Metallica.”
But he doesn’t feel too bad about it, explaining: “It encapsulates Weezer – you’re trying to be cool like Velvet Underground but your metal roots pump through unconsciously.”
There’s a twist to the tale, though, because Metallica’s James Hetfield has admitted he “lifted” the main riff from another band, and thanks Rush in the original album liner notes. If you know the Canadian trio's epic Tom Sawyer, can you see a link So… Weezer actually stole from Rush?
Take a listen for yourself:
Weezer: Undone – The Sweater Song
Metallica: (Welcome Home) Sanitarium
Rush: Tom Sawyer
Weezer’s new album Raditude is released in October. Tracks include Exit Sandman and Spirit of The Video (joking).
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